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Van Nistelrooy tips Pellegrini for City success

Ruud van Nistelrooy believes former manager Manuel Pellegrini's style of football will suit Manchester City © AP

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Ruud van Nistelrooy has urged Manchester City fans not to judge their next manager Manuel Pellegrini on his lack of trophies in Europe.

Pellegrini is set to be confirmed as Roberto Mancini's successor at the Etihad Stadium, but in nine years in Spain he only won the Intertoto Cup.

But former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy, who played under the Chilean for both Real Madrid and Malaga, believes Pellegrini has a record of overachieving and said his attacking football will bring City success.

He said: "He had one season at Real Madrid but what stands out on his record is the work he did at Villarreal and Malaga.

"Obviously they are not the biggest clubs in Spain but he consistently qualified for the Europa League and even the Champions League and did well in those competitions so I think that is what he should be judged on. You can't judge him on trophies because he wasn't at Barcelona or at Real [for very long] to win trophies.

"At Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga, he played with very offensive full-backs, with wide players coming inside, full-backs overlapping and two strikers up front. It is an attractive style of football and in that sense I'm sure he will get that and eventually succeed at City."

Pellegrini is nicknamed 'The Engineer' and Van Nistelrooy believes he brings his managerial methods explain why.

He added: "He's an architect in his profession. He constructs and he analyses things. He builds a team. He's got his people with him and I reckon he will bring them to City with him so he will implement his style and way of working to the players and he will be very consistent with it. He won't change that for anyone.

"The way he works with players is to structurally improve the team, making players better and, if necessary, getting players in where he thinks the team needs to improve for the way he wants to play."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.